Election 2018 Update: Torrance Mayor's Race

The City of Torrance is at a crossroads.

On the one hand, the quality of life is still good, and business is booming. The roads are looking better, probably since that terrible gas tax was forced on all of us and now municipalities can justify paving their roads, I guess, because more money (?) is flowing in.

The city of Torrance remains a great place to live, in spite of the corrupt shenanigans of Mayor Pat Furey. I love living in the city of Torrance, and I have no regrets or major quality of life qualms about living there.

On the other hand, there are major issues rising on the horizon:

1. The pension and benefits liabilities are massive. At this point, $1 out of every four in the budget is going to a retiree, and most of them do not live in the city anymore. The redistributionist element of this move is not putting money into the local economy, as some collectivists would allege.

The costs of running the city are getting bigger, no doubt.

2. Public safety. I don't worry about well-being or security where I live, but more people have suffered burglaries and break-ins. The crime rate is a concern in the city of Torrance.

3. The "Clean Streets" program. More residents are up in arms about this new ticketing system, as more people have to get their cars off the streets at set times. The new street sweeping program is raking in at least $1 million a year, even though the program was supposed to be revenue neutral. What's up?!

4. Zoning ordinances, Historic District of Downtown Torrance. It was a sad day when I saw the city council decide to impose new rules and strictures on homeowners in the "Historic Section" of the city. The council went along with the Historical Society's interest in preserving the quality and character of the neighborhood.

So, property rights mean nothing in the vain pursuit of hometown history? Most of the homes in the region are old, not necessarily historic. If any ordinance needed to be imposed, the beginning enforcement period should have begun with home purchases after the passage of the ordinance.

The city council chose to impose a compromise ordinance on planning commission projects in the Historic District, but that still is not right.

5. Garbage tax increase. Why can't the city live within its means? Why raise taxes on anyone?

6. Corruption. Mayor Pat Furey violated campaign finance laws by colluding with the McCormick Ambulance contract. He was the key vote which terminated the contract with Gerber, a Torrance-based ambulance firm. He was fined $35,000, even though he protested that he did not pay a penny.

He also played the race card against me, Joseph Turner, and others who have fought against illegal immigration and want to stop the undermining attacks on our nation's sovereignty. He felt compelled to write some apology letter to every mayor in Los Angeles County. Not sure by what authority he has a right to apologize to anyone on behalf of anyone else who exercises their First Amendment rights. If the rule of law and the natural rights of American citizens are so offensive to him, then he needs to step down as mayor, since he doesn't want to honor or uphold his oath of office.

7. Big Green Agenda, Agenda 21. Tim Goodrich, the anti-war veteran, is still pushing the Community Choice Aggregation scheme, and it looks like the city is going further down that pathway. The city voted to continue participating in SBCOG, even though these un-elected shadow governments have no right to exist, and there is no accountability for them to be there in the first place.

8. Rule of law issues. The city attorney is frequently faces conflicts of interests, and has not prosecuted municipal code violations against the city council. The statute of limitations elapsed against Mayor Furey following the FPPC fine and dust-up which occurred shortly after the McCormick Contract debacle. Where is the rule of law here? Is the city council now above the law? Let's not forget, either, that the beekeeper ordinance has established that one objection to an apiary was supposed to mean a rejection of the permit.

9. The Torrance Refinery. Yes, the refinery, the big gas-maker which, in the opinion of all the fearful greenies, is going to explode and kill everyone within a twenty-mile radius. Blah, Blah, Blah. I have never felt safer, and the truth is that it's a diligent, anti-growth, anti-carbon agenda

Yet the city waived that clear-cut requirement in their own ordinance. Such lawlessness cannot continue unchecked.

So, who's running in the Torrance Mayor's race so far?

Yes, I live in Pat's head rent-free.

1. Evil, Crooked Pat Furey, who should be in a jail cell. This man reeks of an embittered arrogance which bothers many people. There are men and women in the city of Torrance who are as liberal as I am conservative, but they want Pat Furey gone because he is corrupt, enabling the labor unions to have everything and make everyone else pay for it.

2. Ron Riggs, a real estate agent, advisor, with a lot of money, but little else. He is not as well-connected to the inner workings of the community, but he is keenly interested in shaking things up in the city of Torrance. He has a number of business and other community contacts, of course, and has raised money, too. He has energy, and he is an outside voice, but he seems more hot air than ballast and balance.

3. Tom Brewer, whom I liken to low-energy Jeb Bush. He is very much an establishment candidate at this point. He served on the Torrance City Council for 8 years, and he has commensurate experience to run the city. Yet at the same time he isn't committed to changing much of the city's culture of spending and accommodating basic interests in the city. I supported Tom Brewer for mayor in 2014, and so did the Daily Breeze. He took a serious stance on dealing with the labor unions and reining in the pension and liability debt looming over the city.

I have a feeling that the Daily Breeze will endorse Tom Brewer for mayor--again, in part because left-wing journalist Nick Green has written one glaring hit piece after another against the mayor. Don't get me wrong. I am glad that he has gone after Furey with fury, and of course he has smeared conservatives, too.

So far, this election is ho-hum. I don't want Furey in office again, but the two candidates running against him are bound to cancel each other out and hand another victory to the incumbent. The public integrity and corruption issues have not excited enough outrage or interest from the public, it seems. The quality of life issues are on course.

One of the two candidates needs to step out of the race, and then ensure that there is one candidate who can grab the ongoing discontent with the city leadership and challenge Furey. Besides the fact that he is a progressive Leftist more interested in shaming his opposition and critical citizens in general

I wish that there was more excitement from the city to do something about the excessive pensions, benefits, etc swallowing the city whole, but nothing has come forward. It looks like there are too many people who are not paying attention, and because of that, we may see a replay of 2014, where all the elected officials get re-elected, and the nicest candidates are the ones who win any open seats.

Except this time around, there are no open seats at all. Gosh, can't we get this race into gear or what? Please, Torrance, we can do better for our mayorship than what we have now!

A Case of Schaper Derangement Syndrome: Corrupt Pat Furey Jr.

"I hate Arthur! He did what my father never did:
Hold me acocuntable for my corrupt behavior!"

Patrick Furey Jr. the corrupt, amoral fraud, the son of the other corrupt, amoral Torrance Mayor Pat Furey, apparently suffers from Schaper Derangement Syndrome.

You see, taxpaying residents in the city of Torrance were furious when they learned that Mayor Furey was fined $35,000 for colluding with the McCormick PAC.

And who was the campaign manager explicitly colluding in this perverse transaction?

Pat Jr.!

We the People pushed hard to have Little Pat removed from the Torrance Traffic Commission--and he resigned in disgrace before the city council pushed to formally have him removed.

Of course, he still hasn't gotten over it.

Check out what he posted about me after The Daily Breeze reported (belatedly) about the Beach Cities Republicans' charter revocation:

Here's the text of his fuming Facebook post:

Meet Crazy Art - one of the people three Torrance City Councilmembers cited when attacking me and my family last year. Too bad the "author" didn't post all his racist and homophobic rants for the world to see.

Who else complained about me? Which city councilmembers? I do not recall. I do know that the city council was ready to throw him off the commission for his corruption and unethical behavior.

Check out the video to see what we did:

There are a lot of people who are less involved in their community because of whack jobs like this man with special needs and politicians like David Hadley (or should I say former politicians) who actually get their advice from people like him. While he is blogging and harassing latinos in cities he doesn't even live in (after losing his job as a bag boy at a grocery store), there are people actually trying to make a difference in their community with real involvement.

"Whack job with special needs"--that sounds a lot like Pat Jr., actually!

David Hadley a whack job?! Now that's a good one!

Then he claims that people are making a difference in their community--but he had written that there are people who are "less involved."

What else can we call this? A very clear case of "Schaper Derangement Syndrome"!

Like Father Like Son: Pat Jr. Mocks Me (and Demeans People With Special Needs)

Patrick Furey, the corrupt mayor of Torrance, CA, has called me a sicko and then claimed that I was troubled.

This is another petty Saul Alinksy tactic, which before that was a silencing tactic used by the Soviet Union to remove dissidents.

Just claim that they are crazy or simple-minded, or mentally retarded.

Mayor Furey is on board with this shameful name-calling.

Everyone should know the motto "Like Father, Like Son."

Pat Furey Jr. has the same problems.

Check out his rant against me and others below:

So, Pat Furey Jr. claims that I have special needs?

What is that supposed to mean?

Then he demeans men and women who have developmental disabilities?

What kind of man would say such things?

His mother Terry Furey works in the public school system. Did she teach her son to have such a disdain for young special ed students in our schools?

Disgraced son of disgraceful mayor, Pat Jr.:
"I don't like Arthur! He's a retard!"

Since when did speaking out against corruption, against bad leadership in any city amount to "having special needs."

Wow--that is just distasteful!

Shame on them!

Of course, why would Pat Jr. engage in such hateful rhetoric towards me and then also demean people with developmental issues and special needs?

Because I was part of a larger Torrance coalition which demanded his removal from the Torrance Traffic Commission following a third conviction for FPPC violations. Click her for more information.

And like all spoiled children who have gotten away with rampant wrongdoing, he's still hurt because he finally got caught!

McCormick Sponsored a Torrance Ed Foundation Table for Furey and Son

Is there any shame left in the Torrance political class.

Any?

Sources informed me that at the April 30th, 2016 Torrance Ed Foundation dinner. McCormick Ambulance sponsored a table for ...

Guess who!

Mayor Pat Furey and Patrick Furey.

Other sources have indicated that Furey praised the work of McCormick Ambulance.

I don't care what kind of work they may be doing.

The fact that corruption and collusion awarded that contract to that company should force them out right now.

This is wrong.

All the donations in the world cannot excuse wrong-doing, either.

The Torrance Education Foundation should rethink accepting donations from any corrupt or unethical businesses in the city.

In the Furey-McCormick-Commission Matter, Torrance Democratic Club President Exposes His Partisanship

At the April 12th, 2016 Torrance City Council meeting, Torrance Democratic Club President Jimmy Gow spoke out against the removal of Patrick Furey Jr. from the Torrance Traffic Commission.

By then, in larger part due to public outcry, Patrick Furey Jr had already resigned his post as Traffic Commissioner.

Jimmy Gow

Yet Jimmy Gow claimed that the outcry against Patrick Furey Jr. was partisan in nature, and therefore had nothing to do with principle.

No mention of the ethical cloud hanging over the city. No mention of the fact that Torrance residents of diverse political backgrounds censured the mayor and demanded the removal of Pat Jr.

He even indicated that a local Republican leader was instigating the removal of Pat Jr.

Here are the full remarks from Jimmy Gow:

I am here to implore you not to let partisan grudges like the one on 12D  [the agenda item to remove Pat Jr from the Traffic Commission] distract you from the business of the city.

Maintaining law and order, ethical members to every city commission: those responsibilities are crucial to every city council's role.

If you look at the details of this issue, it's really much ado about nothing.

A growing cohort of residents in the city of Torrance felt otherwise, and continue to feel otherwise.

It is shameful and sad that Jimmy Gow tried to diminish this matter.

Why would he--or anyone?--go to such lengths to cover for Pat Jr?

He is a Democrat, and a  Democratic operative.

Pat Jr  is also a Democrat, and a well-seasons operative, according to some reports. Pat Jr. touches a number of local races and has advanced progressive/Big Labor political maneuvering in the South Bay through his father, mayor Pat Furey.

And only an issue because political operatives are determined to tear down good people.

What is Jimmy Gow talking about? Whom is he talking about? Does it really matter?

Pat Jr. received three admonitions and was hit with fines for his illegal campaign activities. How much longer will the public permit unethical activities to continue until someone says "Stop!" or does something to prevent

These remarks were unclear and obscure.

The email campaign promoted by the local Republican club is an example.

Which club? The Torrance Lomita Republican Assembly? The Beach Cities Republicans? The Lincoln Club? Was there an effort from the Torrance Democrat Club? Other clubs to denounce the illegal and unethical actions of the mayor, the McCormick-TFOA PAC?

With all due respect to the gravity of the situation, "What difference does it make?" who is seeking right corrective actions to these behaviors?

The technicalities of a campaign manager running afoul of the FPPC and/or the people working for the IE [?] has no bearing on his performance as a city commissioner.

Yes, it does. Three times Pat Jr, was admonished! Three times! These bad actions reveal bad attitude about good governance. These unethical practices should preclude someone from serving at the public trust.

Why does something like this have to be discussed? Why does Jimmy Gow not seem to care about these issues? Are these the values of the Torrance Democratic Club?

Not only did the individuals in the city council audience speak for Pat Jr.s removal, the Torrance Daily Breeze exhorted the City Council for the Traffic Commissioner's ouster.

The Daily Breeze! Not a Republican club, not Republican operatives -- The Daily Breeze!

The articles reporting on the matter, and the editorial, all came from this paper. in the Daily Breeze. From what I know about Nick Green, he is no conservative, and no operative of the Republican Party, or of any party (?)

Supplemental materials provided by the Torrance City Councilmembers to the public also indicated that an "email campaign" was actually a series of campaigns from residents throughout the city appalled by the disgraceful, unethical behavior of the mayor and his son.

There was no indication in any of the writings provided that the diverse responses from residents in the city were intimately directed by any political group. If anything, Torrance residents are connecting on this matter, and they have worked together as citizens who simply want good and honest government.

The two issues are separate.

No they are not. No, Jimmy. Integrity matters.

Indeed, my understanding is ...

At this point, members of the audience criticized the council and the speaker because he was speaking on an agenda item.

Gow was prepared to sit down, but then the city attorney reminded the audience that since item 12D was withdrawn from the agenda, the item merited discussion during public comment, if a resident of the city so desired.

Gow continued, but he halted his speech a few times, seemed to struggle for words at that point.

Perhaps it was becoming clear to the audience that he was exposed for his hypocrisy. He was being the partisan and making the whole Furey-Furey Jr. affair about politics instead of principle.

He finally found his words:

I think I was saying that the two issues are separate.

The reason that this is even being discussed, talked about, as it was earlier, is because of the political maneuverings of GOP supporters of another commissioner who  was appropriately removed for misusing his position.

Again, completely different from the other situation.

It has more to do with the Republicans having lost the 2014 Election, looking for any way to undo those results.

They even had David Hadley chiming in on the McCormick contract, and my question is where was he when the Republican supporters in 2011 as was testified last week, took the #4 bidder as opposed to the #1 bidder.

There was no outrage then.

What is Jimmy Gow talking about?!

These remarks were brazenly partisan and offensive. Members of the audience began to boo.

His train of thought was particularly confusing.
What is wrong with an elected official sharing concerns about corruption or bad governance in the local cities?

Furthermore, what do prior infractions or illegal actions have to do with the present problem?

Final Reflection:

Here are three links of oral communications from the April 12th, 2016 meeting.

 These three distinct individuals criticized Mayor Pat Furey and his son Patrick Furey Jr., all in relation to the FPPC fines against the mayor and his son, particularly the son, the target of three admonitions/fines for illegal campaign practices.

Linda Gotshall Sayed: She declared that she was a vocal friend and supporter of the mayor.

Now she is one of his most vocal critics. Is she part of some vast right-wing Republican conspiracy?

Mik Moran: He is a resident and homeowner in Torrance.

Annie Ko: She reminded the audience that the city had an ambulance provide, Gerber, which went out of business.

Again, is she a Republican operative looking for any excuse to impugn the mayor?

The idea that a demand for good government is simple partisan maneuvering -- that is very offensive.

There are men and women in this city who had suspected Pat Furey of doing criminal or at least unethical activities.

Like some members of the community, I had given Furey the benefit of the doubt about the PAC and the McCormick incident.

Jimmy Gow certainly should reconsider remarks about residents in the city of Torrance who simply do not want their city to turn into another Vernon, Bell, or other corrupt city.

Once again, I find it shameful and offensive that such brazen partisanship was injected into the council meeting. No wonder so many people booed Gow in the audience.

Elected officials are supposed to respect the needs of all citizens. Any demands for good government should be respected, regardless of the political affiliation of the one, two, or many who demand proper action in response to unethical and illegal behavior.

If anyone was unjustly and unjustifiably partisan, it was Jimmy Gow, the President of the Torrance Democratic Club.